Water intoxication can be deadly. Hyponatremia is a specific type of water intoxication. (Hyponatremia occurs when the system loses too much sodium. Other vital minerals are also lost.)
How is this possible? If water is good for you and you should drink at least 8 glasses a day, then 20 or 25 glasses must be great for you, right? Well, no, not unless you are running a daily marathon.
Well, actually you have to be aware of this even if you are running a marathon. It could save your life.
It's not common, but to drink too much water is possible and like all other good things, there are instances of people overdoing it.
You see, your kidneys are responsible for getting rid of excess water. But drinking too much water, too fast can overwhelm them. This leads to "hyponatremia."
Hyponatremia occurs when the extra water reduces the percentage of important minerals including sodium(salt) in your body.
Sodium is an extremely important element in your body. One of its effects is to command how where water goes and how much is retained or released. It must be kept in the proper balance or serious symptoms can start to be experienced.
Just like too much sodium can lead to health problems so too can too little sodium lead to serious symptoms. For helpful information on the importance of salt in managing your body's water supply click here.
So it's really not the water that harms or kills you since the excess is just flushed out. Rather, it's the quick loss of sodium (salt) that is responsible for hyponatremia.
The symptoms include tiredness, disorientation, seizures, breathing problems and ultimately, death.
Interestingly, it is often marathon runners who are not running competively, just kind of sauntering, that often experience signs of water intoxication. That's because they could be drinking water during breaks. So they are actually taking in too water over their leisurely jog. (Click on marathoner David Rogers' picture (below) or the text link, to get the news article on his death from hyponatremia.)
Died from water intoxication: David Rogers, 22
Another scenario involves college hazings or odd, dangerous contests where you drink in a great deal of water and perhaps even avoid urinating to pass a test or win.
Jennifer Strange who was 28 years old, participated in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest held by a local radio station.
Cute, huh? No.
Jennifer died from this stupid stunt. Water intoxication, while not always deadly, occurs more often than you might be aware of.
If, your child is about to go to college, water intoxication is yet another thing to warn her about.
Also, there is a psychiatric condition called "psychogenic polydipsia" in which patients feel the need to drink large quantities of water and this places them at risk for water intoxication.
Preventing symptoms of dehydration like hyponatremia
If you are running a marathon or are sweating profusely, drink more water but again don't go crazy. Also, you may want to add a sports drink containing a balance of minerals including sodium to offset the loss of sodium in your system. This may be good advice for persons suffering from fever sweats or other conditions leading to water loss. ____________________________________________________________ Here's a recipe for an electrolyte replacement drink, sort of like homemade Gatorade:
1 pckg Kool Aid, any flavor; 2 qts water; 1/4 - 1/2 cups sugar (To taste); 1/4 - 1/2 tsp sea salt (A must); 1/2 cup orange juice (or another potassium filled juice) ____________________________________________________________
You don't have to be exercising intensely to experience symptoms. Even moderate exercise may bring on mild symptoms.
It may be smart to add a quarter tsp of sea salt to every quart of water you drink during exercise or if you are losing fluids due to fever. However, if you have any condition that requires sodium reduction, discuss this issue with your health care provider.
You have to be pretty determined to drink too much water. Just don't overdo it when it comes to drinking water or really with anything else and you'll be fine. The old Greek adage of the Golden Mean is valuable in so many different situations.
As with many other conditions, water intoxication is more of an issue for people who are older and those with certain health conditions like congestive heart disease, cirrhosis or those taking diuretics.
